The Fulham game last night was delayed due to the original referee (Richard Beeby - the guy that sent the Barnet keeper off against Man Utd) being injured in the warm up. As a result, the Fourth Official (Andy D'Urso) was promoted to referee.

This got me thinking; why does the Fourth Official not warm up at the start of the game with the Referee and Assistants? I go to quite a few Premiership games and only ever see 3 officials warming up.

Surely where there is a chance that they may be needed as a replacement they should be warmed up and ready just like substitutes for teams are.

Merv

Posted 3 January 2006 - 02:55 PM

Merv

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The other think I’d like to know about referees and their assistants is why, at our level of football, are they always referred to as Mr… so and so and never by their forenames? It used to be the same at Premiership level but MOTD and Sky now always use their forenames and surnames. In all our programmes and match announcements we only ever have reference to surnames.

Staying-up

Posted 5 February 2006 - 04:58 PM

Staying-up

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I see our favourite ref is the linesman(sorry referees assistant) at the Chelsea v Liverpool game today. I dare say he will be a top premier league ref in a few years as he fits the requirements of being politally correct and always booking and sending off players for trival things and not letting the game flow. Only good thing about him reffing at a higher level is he won't be doing anymore of our games.